For anyone contemplating participation in an organized, open water swim race or just needing to tune up your open water swim skills, the Raise The Bar triathlon team (based in Kent) hosts summer, Friday night swims at Lake Meridian throughout the summer. The swims are offered in .5, 1.2 and 2.4 mile distances with wetsuit and non wetsuit divisions. Tonight, Michelle, Nick, Mandy and I participated.
Although the course markings were a bit difficult to see (particularly for those with weak peepers), the event was well organized, well attended and was followed by a delicious, post race barbecue of hot dogs, cheeseburgers, baked beans and watermelon.
Out of the four of us Cycle U tri team members participating, a full 75% placed within the top four in their divisions. Nick and Mandy even earned bags of homemade chocolate chip cookies!
Here are our approximate finish times:
2.4 mile wetsuit
Michelle - 1:08 (4th in women's wetsuit division)
Nick - 1:05 (2nd in men's wetsuit division)
1.2 mile wetsuit
Mandy - :36 (3rd in women's wetsuit division)
Chris - :51 (did not place, but was self-awarded an honorable mention for most zig zags attempted in a single event)
Friday, July 10, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
New Balance Victoria Half Ironman
On June 21 2009, Cycle University Triathlon Team members and marital partners Michelle and Roger, participated in the New Balance Victoria Half Ironman Triathlon, which was Roger's first half iron distance race. Included below are their race reports:
Michelle
What a great race! I highly recommend the Victoria Half Ironman to anyone who is looking at half ironmans in the future.
We dropped of our bikes the afternoon before so all that we had to do before the race was get body marked and get our timing chips. I was getting ready to put on my timing chip and noticed LOL was written in white on the strap. I was amazed that the race had such a great sense of humor. It then occurred to me that it was actually my race number which was 707, and upside down it was LOL. It made me laugh, something that everyone should do before a race.
I saw 2 other CycleU Incycle participants that I had the pleasure of coaching through at least one Incycle class, and I also knew 2 other people outside of CycleU, which was nice.
The race started at 6:45 am with the sound of the cannon. It was the first time I had ever heard that cannon go off instead of a blow horn. Man it was loud. The start was a mass start where I positioned myself on the inside and towards the front. Everyone had spread out along the shoreline so it seemed like a good spot. Then it began. I only got hit a few times in the swim. The most nerve racking was when I noticed a swimmer on my left and right coming in towards me at the same time. I kept swimming and it was fine.
I finished the 1.2 mile swim in 33:56.
Off to the bike leg. It was a two loop course with rolling hills. There was only 1 section that you weren't going up or down. It is not as hilly as the Lake Steven's 70.3 course. At the end of the first loop it started pouring rain. I mean pouring, it was like taking a shower, except with the speed on the bike it felt like you were getting pelted with rain drops (and I'm not exaggerating). My hands were so cold that I could not shift my gears without dropping into my drops, and my toes went numb. By the time I was halfwaythrough my second loop the sky cleared up and it was sunny again. When I was all of ½ a mile from the end of the bike I saw a deer on the side of the road (but unlike Marta it just stood there and watched me ride by).
I finished the 87km (54 mile) bike in 3:36.
I was off on the run, my legs felt great. The run was 2 loops around a 6 mile lake, all on trails. It was beautiful, the temperature was perfect. They had 5 aid stations on one loop of the lake. I ran the entire time except to take in a couple gu's and drink water and Gatorade. After the first lap I was still feeling strong, The course was marked every kilometer, and I told myself I could only look at my watch every 5K to see how I was doing. The second loop seemed to take a lot longer, but it was nice because at the 15K mark I knew I only had a 5K to go and I just told myself, I could run a 5K any day. So I finished strong, feeling good, and thinking back at all the training I put into this race.
I finished the 20K (12.4 mile) run in 2:10.
My total race time was 6:25:44.
I went into the race looking to break the 7hr mark, and would bereally happy to break the 6:30 mark, so yes I'm glad I did it, and yes I will do it again.
Roger
Roger's Victoria Half IM Race Report (aka Roger's Day of Pain)
The day started out well, a little overcast and cool but no wind and no rain. The day before we had some pretty solid wind gusts out side of our hotel so Iwas a little concerned about that. We arrived at the park around 5:30 am and got a nice parking spot near the transition. I wasn't concerned about not being able to leave until the road was opened I wasn't expecting to run sub-6 HIM thefirst time out.
Swim -HOLY S&!T, there was a lot of people waiting in the water to start.... As this was my first mass start at this size I was a little concerned but Michelle thought it best to swim the 100 yards to the start instead of walking. This was a very good idea, I was warmed up and fairly comfortable in the water.
BOOM!!!! (an artillery cannon-up close is bleeding loud). Ok, my game plan was to wait for five seconds and then take off, 1,2,3 ah screw it. Into the water I went and at that point I realized that the analogy of swimming in a washing machine didn't quite do it justice. I saw more disembodied hands and feet underwater than a bad horror flick. About 300 yards in I found a gap in the bodies and was able to relax and get into a rythm. Iwas feeling very comfortable and only needed to pause twice to readjust my sight lines. The second time was due some one using me as a surf board (felt like they were there an hour or so) and actually twisted me almost ninety degrees from the course.
Swim Time: 46:34 PR!!!! YAHOOO!!!
Out of the water and feeling goooood! Actually jogged up into the transition, grabbed my towel and did a quick dry off, socks, shoes, shirt, camelbak, helmet,g lasses, and race belt.
T1 3:58 (not too bad).
Bike off the rack and I'm moving, I'm a little cold but not to concerned. I'm onto the first part of the loop at the first hill, the thought in my head was to keep my cadence up so I downshift into granny and the chain falls into the bottom bracket and gets stuck there. So I have to get off the bike and reach down to pull it unstuck, it felt like I was there for a good five minutes. At the bottom of the first loop the sun came out and it felt amazing, I shifted into the big ring and really started cooking.
I finished the first loop it felt like I was picking off a person about ever ten minutes or so and was feeling in great shape. About the same hill that I lost my chain on I noticed that therains had come through, it took me about 10 minutes and everything from the waist down was wet and frozen--a unique and fairly painful experience.
At this point I noticed the lady with a full on TT bike, aero helmet, and tris uit blow by me on the hill, get about a quarter mile and pull a u-turn in the street and head down hill. The third time she does this I yell out if she needs to add some hill repeats to make the course harder. She slows down and tells me she's training for an IM and helping her friend who is doing her first HIM by riding "with" her.
Just after the water station on the second loop (approx. a third the way in) I hit the second big hill and lose my chain again. I hop off and put it back on,and stand up to get up the hill when I notice that every 4th or 5th pedal stroke my chain skips a gear on the rear cog. After about five minutes of switching gears I realize that the middle gear skips the worst and if I'm in my big or granny gear it isn't to bad. At this point I'm seriously having mental issues, my gear is not working right, I'm tired, cold, and seriously frustrated. I keep going just because I haven't figured out a good way to quit. The rest of the ride is difficult as I have to focus on keeping easy and constant pressure on the pedals to avoid the skipping gear problem.
Bike time: 3:41:48
Into T2, move my neighbors bike so I have room to put my bike and away I go.
T2: 2:43
I finished my water bottle and my entire camelbak on the bike. I was a little tired but felt pretty good going into the run. The first loop was excellent running off road through some great views and cool trail running, on my watch loop 1 took my 1:08. As I ran past the finish line toward my second loop and the crowds cheering me on I felt great. As I went past the aid station I grabbed a GU and and sent it down, about ten steps later it came back up. My stomach went into severe and all encompassing cramps.... oh joy.... At this pointI'm walking some and running some, ok walking a lot more than running. As I hit the next water station I'm forcing down water and gatorade, I'm at the point of running 2 minutes, walking 2 minutes. At the last water station word had gotten around that I was having issues and a very nice man with very good intentions offered me a sandwich, I'm sure he meant well but at that time my stomach was cramping on the water that I forced down.
Run time: 2:43:25
Finish time: 7:18:26
Ok, this long winded ramblings of my first half IM really come down to this final statement: I had a good time and I will do this again. Sure I've got a few areas to improve on, like the running, the swimming, the biking, and maybe a transition or two. But hey, I think I can improve my time next event.
Michelle
What a great race! I highly recommend the Victoria Half Ironman to anyone who is looking at half ironmans in the future.
We dropped of our bikes the afternoon before so all that we had to do before the race was get body marked and get our timing chips. I was getting ready to put on my timing chip and noticed LOL was written in white on the strap. I was amazed that the race had such a great sense of humor. It then occurred to me that it was actually my race number which was 707, and upside down it was LOL. It made me laugh, something that everyone should do before a race.
I saw 2 other CycleU Incycle participants that I had the pleasure of coaching through at least one Incycle class, and I also knew 2 other people outside of CycleU, which was nice.
The race started at 6:45 am with the sound of the cannon. It was the first time I had ever heard that cannon go off instead of a blow horn. Man it was loud. The start was a mass start where I positioned myself on the inside and towards the front. Everyone had spread out along the shoreline so it seemed like a good spot. Then it began. I only got hit a few times in the swim. The most nerve racking was when I noticed a swimmer on my left and right coming in towards me at the same time. I kept swimming and it was fine.
I finished the 1.2 mile swim in 33:56.
Off to the bike leg. It was a two loop course with rolling hills. There was only 1 section that you weren't going up or down. It is not as hilly as the Lake Steven's 70.3 course. At the end of the first loop it started pouring rain. I mean pouring, it was like taking a shower, except with the speed on the bike it felt like you were getting pelted with rain drops (and I'm not exaggerating). My hands were so cold that I could not shift my gears without dropping into my drops, and my toes went numb. By the time I was halfwaythrough my second loop the sky cleared up and it was sunny again. When I was all of ½ a mile from the end of the bike I saw a deer on the side of the road (but unlike Marta it just stood there and watched me ride by).
I finished the 87km (54 mile) bike in 3:36.
I was off on the run, my legs felt great. The run was 2 loops around a 6 mile lake, all on trails. It was beautiful, the temperature was perfect. They had 5 aid stations on one loop of the lake. I ran the entire time except to take in a couple gu's and drink water and Gatorade. After the first lap I was still feeling strong, The course was marked every kilometer, and I told myself I could only look at my watch every 5K to see how I was doing. The second loop seemed to take a lot longer, but it was nice because at the 15K mark I knew I only had a 5K to go and I just told myself, I could run a 5K any day. So I finished strong, feeling good, and thinking back at all the training I put into this race.
I finished the 20K (12.4 mile) run in 2:10.
My total race time was 6:25:44.
I went into the race looking to break the 7hr mark, and would bereally happy to break the 6:30 mark, so yes I'm glad I did it, and yes I will do it again.
Roger
Roger's Victoria Half IM Race Report (aka Roger's Day of Pain)
The day started out well, a little overcast and cool but no wind and no rain. The day before we had some pretty solid wind gusts out side of our hotel so Iwas a little concerned about that. We arrived at the park around 5:30 am and got a nice parking spot near the transition. I wasn't concerned about not being able to leave until the road was opened I wasn't expecting to run sub-6 HIM thefirst time out.
Swim -HOLY S&!T, there was a lot of people waiting in the water to start.... As this was my first mass start at this size I was a little concerned but Michelle thought it best to swim the 100 yards to the start instead of walking. This was a very good idea, I was warmed up and fairly comfortable in the water.
BOOM!!!! (an artillery cannon-up close is bleeding loud). Ok, my game plan was to wait for five seconds and then take off, 1,2,3 ah screw it. Into the water I went and at that point I realized that the analogy of swimming in a washing machine didn't quite do it justice. I saw more disembodied hands and feet underwater than a bad horror flick. About 300 yards in I found a gap in the bodies and was able to relax and get into a rythm. Iwas feeling very comfortable and only needed to pause twice to readjust my sight lines. The second time was due some one using me as a surf board (felt like they were there an hour or so) and actually twisted me almost ninety degrees from the course.
Swim Time: 46:34 PR!!!! YAHOOO!!!
Out of the water and feeling goooood! Actually jogged up into the transition, grabbed my towel and did a quick dry off, socks, shoes, shirt, camelbak, helmet,g lasses, and race belt.
T1 3:58 (not too bad).
Bike off the rack and I'm moving, I'm a little cold but not to concerned. I'm onto the first part of the loop at the first hill, the thought in my head was to keep my cadence up so I downshift into granny and the chain falls into the bottom bracket and gets stuck there. So I have to get off the bike and reach down to pull it unstuck, it felt like I was there for a good five minutes. At the bottom of the first loop the sun came out and it felt amazing, I shifted into the big ring and really started cooking.
I finished the first loop it felt like I was picking off a person about ever ten minutes or so and was feeling in great shape. About the same hill that I lost my chain on I noticed that therains had come through, it took me about 10 minutes and everything from the waist down was wet and frozen--a unique and fairly painful experience.
At this point I noticed the lady with a full on TT bike, aero helmet, and tris uit blow by me on the hill, get about a quarter mile and pull a u-turn in the street and head down hill. The third time she does this I yell out if she needs to add some hill repeats to make the course harder. She slows down and tells me she's training for an IM and helping her friend who is doing her first HIM by riding "with" her.
Just after the water station on the second loop (approx. a third the way in) I hit the second big hill and lose my chain again. I hop off and put it back on,and stand up to get up the hill when I notice that every 4th or 5th pedal stroke my chain skips a gear on the rear cog. After about five minutes of switching gears I realize that the middle gear skips the worst and if I'm in my big or granny gear it isn't to bad. At this point I'm seriously having mental issues, my gear is not working right, I'm tired, cold, and seriously frustrated. I keep going just because I haven't figured out a good way to quit. The rest of the ride is difficult as I have to focus on keeping easy and constant pressure on the pedals to avoid the skipping gear problem.
Bike time: 3:41:48
Into T2, move my neighbors bike so I have room to put my bike and away I go.
T2: 2:43
I finished my water bottle and my entire camelbak on the bike. I was a little tired but felt pretty good going into the run. The first loop was excellent running off road through some great views and cool trail running, on my watch loop 1 took my 1:08. As I ran past the finish line toward my second loop and the crowds cheering me on I felt great. As I went past the aid station I grabbed a GU and and sent it down, about ten steps later it came back up. My stomach went into severe and all encompassing cramps.... oh joy.... At this pointI'm walking some and running some, ok walking a lot more than running. As I hit the next water station I'm forcing down water and gatorade, I'm at the point of running 2 minutes, walking 2 minutes. At the last water station word had gotten around that I was having issues and a very nice man with very good intentions offered me a sandwich, I'm sure he meant well but at that time my stomach was cramping on the water that I forced down.
Run time: 2:43:25
Finish time: 7:18:26
Ok, this long winded ramblings of my first half IM really come down to this final statement: I had a good time and I will do this again. Sure I've got a few areas to improve on, like the running, the swimming, the biking, and maybe a transition or two. But hey, I think I can improve my time next event.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Tina Takes Kona
Cycle U Triathlon Team member Tina isn't exactly known for her ego. Her modesty is almost believable unless you've ever ridden with her, in which case you quickly adjust to seeing her back disappear into the distance while she sprints ahead...up hill.
On May 31st 2009, Tina joined hundreds of other triathletes along the Kohala Coast of Kona, Hawaii for Ironman 70.3. Included below is Tina's race report:
What a fantastic experience !! I cant believe I particpated in a race with Ironman Champions Craig Alexander, Chris Leito, Belinda Graigner, S. McGlone and other amazing triathletes! Rae Shaw, from Seattle (and a Cycle U member) was there also and came in 3rd woman overall with some amazing times!
My report is nothing like Marta's (WAY to GO CHAMP!) I definitely cannot say that I raced up to my expectations but I did come close to my goals on the swim and the bike....some problems on the run though that I couldn't quite plan for.
My swim goal was not to panic with the mass swim start and try for 45-50 minutes easy swim. I treaded water about 50 yards behind the 1300 other swimmers and watched their frenzied start as the cannon went off and the swimmers in the water and the beach swam and kicked madly to the first bouy. Once the water stopped churning and the bay was calm again I started my nice easy swim in a zen like state. Not the best plan but I came out of the water with my heart rate low. It was so nice to swim in warm salt water without a wet suit! (57 min)
The bike leg was great! My goal was 2:59. Learned all about the crazy winds on the Kohala coast, lots of long rolling hills, 95 degrees w/80% humidity, great aid stations(hydrated at each one) and was able to see the pros race the return leg from Hawi. Stuck to my plan of holding back a little so my legs wouldn't be so thrashed for the run and only fell off my bike once... (3:04)
The run leg was BRUTAL. Had plenty of energy off the bike but the first 2 miles the old sciatic caused a searing pain in my buttock :-) w/each step. Finally it loosened up a bit after 2-3 miles but by then the heat started taking its toll. The "real -feel temp" was over 100 degress. I'm from ALASKA..60 degrees is hot for me!!! THERE WERE NO TREES OR SHADE ON THAT WHOLE COURSE! Thank goodness for all the volunteers with their sponges, ice, MORE SUNSCREEN and gatorade. Think I walked the fasted 1/2 marathon ever !
All in all it was a great experience. Thank you all for helping me the past few months by running and riding with me and of course Ed for his coaching, classes and patience.... ..learned a lot and had a fantastic trip!
On May 31st 2009, Tina joined hundreds of other triathletes along the Kohala Coast of Kona, Hawaii for Ironman 70.3. Included below is Tina's race report:
What a fantastic experience !! I cant believe I particpated in a race with Ironman Champions Craig Alexander, Chris Leito, Belinda Graigner, S. McGlone and other amazing triathletes! Rae Shaw, from Seattle (and a Cycle U member) was there also and came in 3rd woman overall with some amazing times!
My report is nothing like Marta's (WAY to GO CHAMP!) I definitely cannot say that I raced up to my expectations but I did come close to my goals on the swim and the bike....some problems on the run though that I couldn't quite plan for.
My swim goal was not to panic with the mass swim start and try for 45-50 minutes easy swim. I treaded water about 50 yards behind the 1300 other swimmers and watched their frenzied start as the cannon went off and the swimmers in the water and the beach swam and kicked madly to the first bouy. Once the water stopped churning and the bay was calm again I started my nice easy swim in a zen like state. Not the best plan but I came out of the water with my heart rate low. It was so nice to swim in warm salt water without a wet suit! (57 min)
The bike leg was great! My goal was 2:59. Learned all about the crazy winds on the Kohala coast, lots of long rolling hills, 95 degrees w/80% humidity, great aid stations(hydrated at each one) and was able to see the pros race the return leg from Hawi. Stuck to my plan of holding back a little so my legs wouldn't be so thrashed for the run and only fell off my bike once... (3:04)
The run leg was BRUTAL. Had plenty of energy off the bike but the first 2 miles the old sciatic caused a searing pain in my buttock :-) w/each step. Finally it loosened up a bit after 2-3 miles but by then the heat started taking its toll. The "real -feel temp" was over 100 degress. I'm from ALASKA..60 degrees is hot for me!!! THERE WERE NO TREES OR SHADE ON THAT WHOLE COURSE! Thank goodness for all the volunteers with their sponges, ice, MORE SUNSCREEN and gatorade. Think I walked the fasted 1/2 marathon ever !
All in all it was a great experience. Thank you all for helping me the past few months by running and riding with me and of course Ed for his coaching, classes and patience.... ..learned a lot and had a fantastic trip!
Cycle U Tri Team Member Marta Qualifies for Worlds
On the last day of May 2009, Cycle U Triathlon Team member Marta competed in what is often described as one of the most difficult duathlon races known to human kind, the Long Course Duathlon National Championship, held in Auburn California. Included below ist he race report, submitted by the athlete herself:
When they described it as the World's toughest half they weren't kidding. The bike was amazingly hilly ok it was a lot of climbing. I was very happy that I was on my road bike and with a compact double. It started with a couple mile very steep climb- by the way this was after the 3k "warmup" run or the "sprint for your bike run". It just kept on from there. I almost got killed during the bike- I was going down a big descent at about 35-40 mph when some deer came running across the road. I was on a collision course with the second one. I jammed on my brakes and managed to stay upright which is why you should all race cyclocross with Christine and I in the fall- good bike handling skills. Actually you needed them for the whole thing it was a very technical course along with the 5500 feet of climbing. It made eating a little hard but I managed to get in my gels and fig newtons.
The run also was very hard it had a lot of long hills- like 1/2 mile and also my least favorite- long down hills although the hardest part of the run for me was the temperature. It was somewhere in the high 80's. I actually had the dark lenses in my glasses and I'm pretty sure that it is the first time in 2009 that I have used them. I drank and wore a lot of water- there is nothing like running 13.1 miles in wet bike shorts. They had good aid stations I had some warm coke at one that was very good.
My time wasn't really that fast given the course but since it was a duathlon and not many people do them I won my age group- this is why you should race duathlons. Since it was the long course national championships I'm the national champion for my age group and I'm qualified to go to the world championships next year.
It is June now and I'm going to have to start swimming.
When they described it as the World's toughest half they weren't kidding. The bike was amazingly hilly ok it was a lot of climbing. I was very happy that I was on my road bike and with a compact double. It started with a couple mile very steep climb- by the way this was after the 3k "warmup" run or the "sprint for your bike run". It just kept on from there. I almost got killed during the bike- I was going down a big descent at about 35-40 mph when some deer came running across the road. I was on a collision course with the second one. I jammed on my brakes and managed to stay upright which is why you should all race cyclocross with Christine and I in the fall- good bike handling skills. Actually you needed them for the whole thing it was a very technical course along with the 5500 feet of climbing. It made eating a little hard but I managed to get in my gels and fig newtons.
The run also was very hard it had a lot of long hills- like 1/2 mile and also my least favorite- long down hills although the hardest part of the run for me was the temperature. It was somewhere in the high 80's. I actually had the dark lenses in my glasses and I'm pretty sure that it is the first time in 2009 that I have used them. I drank and wore a lot of water- there is nothing like running 13.1 miles in wet bike shorts. They had good aid stations I had some warm coke at one that was very good.
My time wasn't really that fast given the course but since it was a duathlon and not many people do them I won my age group- this is why you should race duathlons. Since it was the long course national championships I'm the national champion for my age group and I'm qualified to go to the world championships next year.
It is June now and I'm going to have to start swimming.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Mt. Si Relay and Ultra
On April 19th 2009, three teams of Cycle U relay runners and two lonely ultra runners hit the road for the 59 mile relay and 50 K ultra event beginning in Snoqualmie, Washington.
Cycle U Bacon Eaters
Nick
Barry
Rachel H.
Mandy
Michelle - team captain
Cycle U Chocolate Milk
Brian
Mark
Rachel
Moin - team captain
Cycle U Beer Drinkers
Roger - team captain
Meredyth
Christine
Jessica
Thom
Brenna
Mandy
Cycle U Team Ultra Pain
Leah - co-captain
Chris - co-captain
Although the weather leading up to race day had been consistently wet, unpleasant, and even snowy, we were fortunate to have a sunny day for the event. The course was mostly on gravel roads, soft on the joints and easy on the eyes. Also impressive was the swag. Relay team members received long-sleeved technical shirts, ultra runners received quarter-zip sweat shirts. Believe me, I've run for much less.
Team Chocolate Milk left at 6:30 am, Beer Drinkers and Bacon Eaters left at 8:00 am and the ultra began at 8:30. Tina, our intrepid cheer captain, seemed to pop out of every bush along the way, cheering for the runners. Thanks for the support, Tina.
By late afternoon, we were all done running. Those who could stay sat their exhausted selves under a park shelter with a direct view of Mt. Si for a delicious BBQ. Included on the menu were burgers, sausages, vegetarian grill items two kinds of potato salad, green salad, fresh fruit, chocolate chip cookies and, you guessed it, beer, chocolate milk and bacon.
Go Cycle U!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
2009 Triathlon Season
Although Cycle U Triathlon Team members have already participated in several biking and running events, with the advent of spring (please, please, please warm up) comes the official start of the 2009 triathlon season.
Listed below are the events noted for participation by Cycle U Triathlon Team members. Additionally, BuDu Racing events have been added. In exchange for volunteer assistance, event discounts are available to the tri team. (Contact Deanna at BuDu Racing for more information.)
4/5/2009
New Orleans 70.3
http://ironman.com/events/ironman70.3/neworleans70.3
New Orleans, LA
Half Ironman
4/19/2009
Mt. Si Ultra and Relay Runs
http://www.ontherunevents.com/results/785.htm
Snoqualmie, WA
50K, 50 mile, 57 mile relay (teams of 5)
4/26/2009
Mt. Rainier Duathlon Series
http://www.buduracing.com/events_detail.php?e=49
Enumclaw, WA
short and longer course run-bike-run
4/26/2009
Mount Rainier Duathlon Long and Short Courses
http://www.buduracing.com/
Enumclaw, WA
5/3/2009
Wildflower
http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/Wildflower2009-main.htm
Lake San Antonio, CA
Olympic, Half Iron
5/25/2009
Spring Festival Triathlon and Duathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Moses Lake, A
5/30/2009
Issaquah Triathlon
http://www.issaquahtri.com/
Issaquah, WA
super sprint triathlon and 5K run
6/6/2009
Moses Lake Family Tri: For the Health of It!
http://www.buduracing.com/
Moses Lake, A
6/12/2009
XTERRA Vashon Off-Road Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Dockton Park, Vashon Island
6/13/2009
Five Mile Lake Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Auburn, WA
6/20/2009
Five Mile Lake Womens Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Auburn, WA
6/21/2009
ironman CDA
http://www.ironmancda.com
Coeur D'alene, Idaho
Ironman
6/21/2009
New Balance Victoria Half Ironman
http://www.lifesport.ca/NBHalfIM2009.htm
Victoria, BC, Canada
Half Ironman
6/28/2009
Lake Padden Triathlon
http://www.trithecookie.com/pages/lake_padden_triathlon.html
Bellingham, WA
"competitive" and "recreational" distance triathlons
7/19/2009
Vineman 70.3
www.vineman.com
Sonoma County, CA
Half Iron individual and relay
7/26/2009
Federal Escape Triathlon
http://www.trifreak.com/federal_escape.htm?c0433790
Federal Way, WA
olympic, sprint
8/8/2009
Ellensburg Sprint Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Ellensburg, WA
8/9/2009
Whisky Dick Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Ellensburg, WA
8/16/2009
Lake Stevens Triathlon
http://www.lakestevens703.com/
Lake Stevens, WA
Half Iron individual and relay
8/16/2009
Danskin Triathlon
http://www.danskinsheroxtri.com/Seattle.htm
Genessee Park
Sprint
8/22/2009
Lake Sammamish Sprint Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Issaquah, WA
Sprint
8/22/2009
Lake Sammamish Kids Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Issaquah, WA
8/23/2009
Ironman Canada
http://ironman.com/events/ironman/canada
Penticton, BC
Ironman
8/25/2009
Satsop Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Elma, WA
Sprint and International
9/13/2009
Lake Stevens Olympic and Sprint Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Lake Stevens, WA
Olympic and Sprint
9/19/2009
Grand Columbian Triathlon
http://www.thegrandcolumbian.com/
Grand Coulee, Electric City, Wa
half Iron, Olympic, relay, aquabike
With only two and a half more weeks left on the training calendar, the next major team event will be the Mt. Si Relay and Ultra. Cycle U will have two to three teams participating in the 57 mile relay, including Team Beer Drinkers and Team Bacon Eaters. Unfortunately, team members Mandy Lund and Mark Van Waes have suffered recent recreational and training injuries.
Listed below are the events noted for participation by Cycle U Triathlon Team members. Additionally, BuDu Racing events have been added. In exchange for volunteer assistance, event discounts are available to the tri team. (Contact Deanna at BuDu Racing for more information.)
4/5/2009
New Orleans 70.3
http://ironman.com/events/ironman70.3/neworleans70.3
New Orleans, LA
Half Ironman
4/19/2009
Mt. Si Ultra and Relay Runs
http://www.ontherunevents.com/results/785.htm
Snoqualmie, WA
50K, 50 mile, 57 mile relay (teams of 5)
4/26/2009
Mt. Rainier Duathlon Series
http://www.buduracing.com/events_detail.php?e=49
Enumclaw, WA
short and longer course run-bike-run
4/26/2009
Mount Rainier Duathlon Long and Short Courses
http://www.buduracing.com/
Enumclaw, WA
5/3/2009
Wildflower
http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/Wildflower2009-main.htm
Lake San Antonio, CA
Olympic, Half Iron
5/25/2009
Spring Festival Triathlon and Duathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Moses Lake, A
5/30/2009
Issaquah Triathlon
http://www.issaquahtri.com/
Issaquah, WA
super sprint triathlon and 5K run
6/6/2009
Moses Lake Family Tri: For the Health of It!
http://www.buduracing.com/
Moses Lake, A
6/12/2009
XTERRA Vashon Off-Road Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Dockton Park, Vashon Island
6/13/2009
Five Mile Lake Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Auburn, WA
6/20/2009
Five Mile Lake Womens Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Auburn, WA
6/21/2009
ironman CDA
http://www.ironmancda.com
Coeur D'alene, Idaho
Ironman
6/21/2009
New Balance Victoria Half Ironman
http://www.lifesport.ca/NBHalfIM2009.htm
Victoria, BC, Canada
Half Ironman
6/28/2009
Lake Padden Triathlon
http://www.trithecookie.com/pages/lake_padden_triathlon.html
Bellingham, WA
"competitive" and "recreational" distance triathlons
7/19/2009
Vineman 70.3
www.vineman.com
Sonoma County, CA
Half Iron individual and relay
7/26/2009
Federal Escape Triathlon
http://www.trifreak.com/federal_escape.htm?c0433790
Federal Way, WA
olympic, sprint
8/8/2009
Ellensburg Sprint Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Ellensburg, WA
8/9/2009
Whisky Dick Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Ellensburg, WA
8/16/2009
Lake Stevens Triathlon
http://www.lakestevens703.com/
Lake Stevens, WA
Half Iron individual and relay
8/16/2009
Danskin Triathlon
http://www.danskinsheroxtri.com/Seattle.htm
Genessee Park
Sprint
8/22/2009
Lake Sammamish Sprint Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Issaquah, WA
Sprint
8/22/2009
Lake Sammamish Kids Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Issaquah, WA
8/23/2009
Ironman Canada
http://ironman.com/events/ironman/canada
Penticton, BC
Ironman
8/25/2009
Satsop Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Elma, WA
Sprint and International
9/13/2009
Lake Stevens Olympic and Sprint Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Lake Stevens, WA
Olympic and Sprint
9/19/2009
Grand Columbian Triathlon
http://www.thegrandcolumbian.com/
Grand Coulee, Electric City, Wa
half Iron, Olympic, relay, aquabike
With only two and a half more weeks left on the training calendar, the next major team event will be the Mt. Si Relay and Ultra. Cycle U will have two to three teams participating in the 57 mile relay, including Team Beer Drinkers and Team Bacon Eaters. Unfortunately, team members Mandy Lund and Mark Van Waes have suffered recent recreational and training injuries.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
St. Patty's Day Dash
a.k.a. "A Team of One"Former Cycle University Triathlon Team director, and multisport coach extraordinaire, Tammy Metzger (pictured left with friend Michael Rydinski), flew in from hot & sunny Austin, Texas for Spring Break last week, and in a moment of weakness was convinced by her fellow-Cycle U Triathlon Teammates to sign up for the St. Patty's Day Dash on Sunday, March 15th.
If this Austin acclimated former-Seattleite can run in the freezin' cold snow & rain, surely her much hardier Seattle-based teammates would be out in large number to join her, no? No. When questioned on this disappointing outcome, Coach Tammy had this to say: "Apparently this team has gotten soft in my absence. Perhaps an Austin bootcamp is in order!"
The Report:
Pre-race consisted of pouring rain, which transitioned to snow flakes the size of Texas, and back to pouring rain from mid-race on. 6,500 people were registered for this event, and it appeared all of them NOT on Team Cycle U where there. I chose to run in the red wave, not sure I was up to staying out of the way of the green wave after the previous day's 3-hour spin trifecta with tri-buddy Peter Beeson at Allstar Fitness W.Seattle. I was shivering like crazy at the start, and thanks to a nice gradual climb out, I warmed up about 10 minutes in and started pulling back the many layers. Michael & I managed to stay together, despite the obstacle course that ensues with crowds this large. It was fun seeing all the get-ups out there, like the guy in the green wave running with a keg on his shoulder, or the girls in short-shorts with green fishnet stockings (brrr!). I did not wear a timing chip, but ran a solid pace, and was happy to have done it. Too cold & wet at the finish, we opted to bail on the beer garden and hit Starbucks for some warm coffee. Below are some more pics from the day. Enjoy!
Above: random participants gettin' in the spirit of the day (Look at that snow!!)
Below: Found a friend pre-race, Jason Yunker of Team in Training! yay!
Above: Random participant
Below: At the start line
Above: Finish line "steam" rising from all the hot bodies in the bitter cold temps
Below: A few hours later, nothing but sunshine. WTF?
Until warmer days....
Coach T , reporting live from ATX.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
